It may not be your first instinct when entering a building to consider how it makes you feel, but architecture has always had a big impact on emotions. Different spaces are designed to make their inhabitants feel different things; offices can make you feel energised and productive, art galleries can make you feel thoughtful and curious, and museums can make you feel calm and intrigued. Each of these spaces is completely different from each other and is far more than just a building.
As part of a series of annual architecture competitions, the Museum of Emotions competition is tasking participants with using architecture as a tool to bring out different emotions. They are asked to design a museum that includes two separate exhibition halls that bring out contrasting emotions – one inducing negative emotions, and the other inducing positive emotions.
Participants are free to choose the specific emotions they incite with their designs – fear, anger, anxiety, love, happiness, laughter, etc. The purpose of the Museum of Emotions is to use architecture as the primary tool to create emotional states, through consideration of the scales of the spaces, the journey through the space, colour, lighting, and material choice.
As this is an ideas competition, participants are free to choose any site location, real or imaginary, as well as the size of their structure.
Museum of Emotions / Edition #7 is one of Buildners’ silent competitions, in which participants must communicate their ideas without the use of any text. The design concept and thinking behind it must all be communicated solely through the use of visuals.
Prizes
Prize fund 10,000 €
1ST PLACE 5,000 €
2ND PLACE 3,000 €
3RD PLACE 1,000 €
Buildner Student Award 1,000 €
6 Honourable mentions & certificates
Key dates
Closing date for registration 27 November 2025
Closing date for project submission 12 January 2026
Announcement of the winners 3 March 2026
Competition Q&A deadline 4 December 2025
Registration fees
EARLY BIRD 20 May – 10 Jul | 70-110 €
ADVANCED 11 Jul – 18 Sep | 80-120 €
LAST MINUTE 19 Sep – 27 Nov | 100-140 €
